Brick-molding machine.



v No. 727,646. PATENTED MAY 12, 1903.

W. J. LBARY.

BRICK MoLnING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. 1902.

N0 MODEL. i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED MAY 12,1903.4

.B a 4. 6 7, 2 .m N.

.APPLICATION FILED PEB. 26, 190,2.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

H0 MODEL.

HE n! UNITED STATES' Patented May 12, 1903.

-PTNT OFFICE.

BRICK-lvloLnlNe MACHINE.

SPCIFIC'ATN forming part of Letters Patent No.,727,646, dated May 12,1903.

Appncmunareb'rwy 26,190?. semina. 95,697. momodein To a/ZZ whom t mayconcern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. LEARY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the .county ot' Erie and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Brick-Molding Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to a brick-molding machine of that kin dvcomprising an'intermittently-rotate'd-fmoldwheel provided withperipheral molds, afeed mechanism for introducing the plastic materialinto vthe molds, a reciprocating plunger for pressing y.the material inthe molds, and ardischargeplunger for ej ecting the pressedbricksfromthe molds.

The main object of the invention is to produce a machine of simpleconstruction,whichV is durable, efficient, and has a'large capacity.

A further object is to provide a simple feed mechanism for accuratelymeasuring or gaging the quantity of material for each brick.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is afront elevation, partly in section, of a brick-molding machine embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, parts of thebperatingmecha-nism for the pressfplunge'r being brkenawayl Fig. 3 is afragmentary rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a section on line 44, Fig. 3, showing the mechanism for operating the perforating-pin andthe holding-latch for thel mold-wheel. larged scale, on the line 5 5,Fig. 3, showingv the perforating-pin and operatingparts. Fig.

6 is a section on line 6 6, Fig. 3, on au'en larged scale, showing theholding-latch for the mold-wheel. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, onan enlarged scale, through" the feed Fig. 8 is a section onv line 8.8,4

mechanism. Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section throughainold and the end of Vthepress-plnnger, showinga perforating-pin for making a centralventhole :inthe brick.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the severalgures. Y Themachine hereinafter describedkisdesigned more especially for making`paving bricks or blocks having an air chamber 'or cavity in the bottomface andan air-vent opening leading from said cavity; butthe machine isalso adapted for molding other kinds of bricks.

Fig. 5 is a section, on an en?V h Qfedint'o'the molds .to form thebricks.

'Y LThe main frame A of the machine, which support for the mold-wheeland the several operating parts ofthe machine. The moldwheel B ismounted between the front and rear face-plates of the main frame on ashaft or axle h, which is journaled at its ends in bearings on the mainframe. 'The moldwheel is provided with a hub or rim b', spaced from thehub by any annular space and counected to the hubby a web or disk b2 atone side of the huband rim. The rimof the` moldwheel is provided with aseries of radially-arranged holes or pockets,which may constitute themolds for the bricks or in which detachi able molds may besecured so asto be ren10vable in order that molds for diiereut styles of bricks maybe used'and the machine adapted for formation of vdifferent shapes or-kinds of bricks. Each mold s'provided with a radially-movable bottom C,which is supported in the mold or mold-opening by bolts or the like c,which are secured to the sides of the mold and project loosely throughholes in yiangesc on the mold-bottom. Goiled springscpreferablysilrround the bolts between the imolnd and the lianges on themold-bottom and act to`n'rmall'y hohlV th`e`fbottom in or toward thecenter of the wheel. To relieve the bolts holding the mold-bottoms fromthe severe jstrain which the pressure of the press-plunger wouldotherwise subject them,` the bottoms are supported when opposite thepressplunger by the circular face of 'a segmental js'hoe or anvil D,which is arranged in the annular space between the hub and the rim ot'the wheelandis supported by the main frame "and the shaft for themold-wheel. The shoe D is preferably provided with a wedge d orotherisuitable means for adjusting the same towardthe jrim of themold-wheel and holding 'thesame rigid. e 4 r L f .Erepiiesents thepress-plunger for pressing theclayfor plasticmaterial which has ,beenThe plunger is mounted to reciprocate radially in guidesr ways e on themain frame of the machine and at its inner end is provided with a diee', which is detachably secured thereto and is fashioned to properlyform one face of the brick.

' may be'of any suitable construction, forms a The press-plunger is op-lerated by a toggle mechanism, such as showny in the drawings, which issupported and constructed as follows:

F represents uprights or columns which oxtend up from the top of themain frame of the machine and support at theirnppcr ends a cross-head f.j" represents a pivot-block which is supported by means of upperinclined rods f2, connecting the same with the crosshead f, and lowerinclined rods f3, con necting the same with the upper portion of themain frame of the machine.

f4 represents a brace-rod or the like which is connected to thepivot-block at its upper end and at its lower end to a suitable partformed on the main frame.

G represents a toggle-joint formed of links, the upper of which ispivoted to the crosshead and the lower of which is connected at itslower end tothe upper end of the pressplunger. The knuckle of thetoggle-joint is connected to the link g of a toggle-joint, the otherlink g of which is pivoted at its outer end to the pivot-block f.

H represents the main drive-shaft, which is journaled in suitablebearing-brackets h on the main frame and is provided with the usualtight and loose pulleys 7i for the d riving-belt. The drive-shaft isprovided with a gear-pinion h2, which meshes with a gearwheel h3onacan1-shafth4, which is journaled in one of the bearing-brackets h andadditional brackets h5 on the main frame.

h6 represents cam-disks which are fixed on the camshaft between thebearing-brackets h5. The cam-disks are spaced apart and provided ontheir adjacent faces with cam grooves or tracks hl, in which engagerollers on the lower end of a link hs, which is pivoted to the knuckleof the toggle-joint g g' and extends down beneath the carn-disks.

h represents a link pivoted to the lower end of the lilik h5 and to asuitable part of the main frame. Then the cam-disks are rotated, thelink hs will be raised and lowered, so as buckle and straighten thetoggle-joint g g' and through it the press-plu nger toggle G.

I represents the supply hopper or chute for the plastic material fromwhich the bricks are made. This hoppeil or chtite is supported upon themain frame of the machine, and its lower end communicates with afeed-gage or measuring box or receptacle l', which is supported by themain frame of the machine radiallyrelative to the incid-wheel, with itsinner end extending into close proximity to the periphery of themold-wheel, so as to register with the molds or mold-openings as thesame are brought in the rotation of the wheel opposite thereto.

fi represents a gate operated by a handwheel or other suitable means `1lfor regulating the size of the opening between the supplyhopper and thefeed-receptacle I.

"L2 represents a slidegate which closes the inner end of thefeed1eceptacle.

J represents a device for feeding the plastic material from thefeedi'eceptacle into the molds. In the construction shown it is in theform of a propeller composed of a spiral blade or wingj and inclinedblades or wings j, supported on a rotary shaft jg, arrangedlongitudinally in the feedreceptacle and mounted in suitable bearings ona bracket or the like secured to the feed-receptacle- The spiral andinclined blades or wings may be secured to the shaft in any suitablemanner. As shown, they are carried by collars which are fixed on theshaft side by side to rotate therewith and are held by a key at one endand a bolt which passes through the other end collar. The shaft isprovided with suitable means for rotating the same and permitting it tomove longitudinally in the feedrecep tacle. ln the construction shown(see Figs. 7 and S) the upper end of the shaft passes through the hub ofa pulleyji, to which it is keyed or splined. The hub of the pulley isrotatably mounted in the outer bearingjA1 for the shaft and is providedwith annular ribs or shoulders or any other suitable means forpreventing longitudinal movement of the pulley in its bearing.

j represents a coiled spring which surrounds the feed-shaft and abuts atone end against the out-er bearing j therefor and at its inner endagainst an adjusting-collar j on the shaft. lVhen the shaft is rotated,the spiral and inclined wings or blades propel or move the material ofwhich the bricks are formed toward the gate ft2 at the inner end of thefeed box. As the'clay cannot escape from the box until the gate isopened, the propeller-shaft gradually works outward or away from thegate'against the tension ofits projecting spring .7'5 by reason of theresistance offered by the material packing in the gate end of thefeed-receptacle- VtThen the gate is opened, the spring forces thepropellershaft inward and pushes the material which has been packedbetween the inner end of the propeller and the gate into the mold whichis opposite to the inner end of the feed-receptacle. The speed ofrotation of the feed-shaft and the tension of the spring are soregulated that between the time the gate is closed and opened thepropeller feedsjust sufiicient Inaterial into the space between the endof the propeller and the gate to make the brick or bricks formed in onemold. If for any rcason the propeller should tend to feed more materialinto this space, the shaft will be forced farther outward and the splineor key will be thrown out of engagement with the groove in the hub ofthe driving-pulley, so that the shaft cannot rotate and willnot feedmore material until that in the feed-receptacle is discharged and theshaft is returned by the spring to its normal position, with the keyengaging in its groove. The pulley of the feed device or propeller maybedriven by any suitable drive connections-such, for instance, as a beltK, which connects it with a pulley 7e on the main drive-shaft H.

7U" represents idler guide-pulleys for prop- IOO IOS

constructed as follows:

2 i bar.

L represents a transverse shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings inthe frame and provided with a gearwheel Z, which meshes with a rack-barZ', connected to the gate. The shaft L is provided with a secondgear-wheel Z2, which meshes with a vertical rack-bar Z3, mounted toslide in bearings Z4 on the machine-frame.

Z5 represents a coil-spring which surrounds the rack-bar Z3 between oneof the bearings therefor and a shoulder or collar on the rack- Thespring tends to force the rack-bar downwardly and rotate the shaft L tocause the outward movement ofthe rack-bar Zl and the opening of thegate. The rack-bar is held up against the action of the spring by atrigger Z6, pivoted on a fixed part of the frame and engaging beneath aprojection Z7 on thel rack-bar.

M represents a rock-arm which is secured to a shaft m, journaled insuitable bearings provided therefor on one of the uprights F of theframe. The shaft has secured thereto a lever m', which is pivoted to thelower link of the toggle-joint G for the press-plunger.

When the toggle-joint is broken to raise the plunger, the lever m' israised and the arm M lowered. The arm is provided with a projection m2,adapted to engage with the spring'- pressed trigger Z6. l/V hen theprojection m2 strikes the trigger, it releases the rack-bar and permitsthe spring to throw' the same downwardly and open the gate. When thetoggle-joint for the press-plunger is straightened to lower the plunger,the arm M is raised and engages under a projection m3 on the rack-bar Z3and lifts the latter until the projection Z7 thereon is engaged and heldby the trigger. The gate is thus opened and closed each time thepress-plunger is raised and lowered.

N, Fig. 7, represents a flat spring which is secured to the gate i2.When the gate is closed, the end of the spring abuts against the end ofthe feed-receptacle and is buckled or bowed, so as to press on the outerface of the material in the mold and smooth the same when the mold-wheelis rotated.

The mold-table is intermittently rotated to carry the molds successivelyto the feeding mechanism and then to the press-plunger by suitablemechanism. The mechanism shown in the drawings for this purpose (secFig. 3) is constructed as follows:

O represents a ratchet-wheel which is fixed to the rear end of themold-wheel shaft, and

O represents a pawl-lever which is loosely hung on the shaft and isprovided with a pawl o', held in yielding contact with theteeth of theratchet-wheel by a suitable spring or the like. The free end of thepawl-lever is connected by a coil-spring o2 to the lower end of a leveror arm 03, fixed on a horizontal rockshaft o4, mounted in suitablebearings on the top of the frame and which is provided with a rock armor lever o5 which at its u er end is pivoted to the projectingend of thetogglelink g. Y

P, Figs. 3 and 6, represents a latch-bolt or the like which is slidablymounted in a hole in the rear face-plate of theframe and is pressedagainst the rear face of the moldwheel by a spring p, which surroundsthe stem of the bolt between a shoulder thereon and a cap or block p',which closes the outer end of the hole in the frame in which the bolt islocated. The bolt is adapted to engage in either of a circular series ofholes or grooves p2 in the rear face of the mold-wheel. The grooves areeach provided with an abrupt face or shoulder and an inclined face, sothat the bolt can ride on the face of the moldwheel and down into thegrooves as the same are brought successively opposite the bolt.`

The bolt holds the mold-wheel from turning forwardly more than one step,or the distance between two molds.

Q represents a rock-shaft which is jour` naled in suitable bearings Q onthe rear side of the frame. This shaft is provided at one end with anarmQ, which is grooved and provided withan outwardly-facing inclinedface Qzand an inwardly-facing inclined face Q3.

Q4 represents a stud or finger secured to the gear-wheel h3 andprojecting therefrom, so as to engage in the rotation of the wheel withthe inwardly-inclined face Q2 on the rock-arm Q' and rock the arm andthe rock-shaft Q.

Q5 represents an arm which is loosely hung on the rock-shaft and at itslower end is provided with an opening or eye through which the outerportion of the latch-bolt passes. The arm Q5 is provided with a slot Q,in which a pin on therock-shaft engages. When the shaft -is rocked, thepin willmove in the slot until it engages the upper end ofthe slot, whenthe arm Q5 will rock with the shaft and engage an enlargement Q7 on theouter end of the latch-bolt and move the latter out to disengage thebolt from the abrupt shoulder on the mold-wheel. The slot-and-pincounection of the arm Q5 to the rock-shaft permits the arm to remainstationary during the first part of the movement of the rock-shaft for apurpose hereinafter described. When the press-plungeris raised by thebending of its operatingtoggle, the arm 05 is rocked and the arm o3,connected to the pawl-lever o', is moved away from the pawl-lever,which, togetherwith the ratchet-wheel and mold-Wheel, are held frommovement by Ithe latch-bolt.

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The spring o2 is thus placed under tension. When the bolt is released bythe mechanism above described, the spring o2 contracts and swings thepawl-lever on its shaft, carrying the ratchet-wheel and mold-wheelaround with it. The mold-wheel is thus moved quickly. It is stopped bythe latch-bolt engaging in the next succeeding groove in the mold-wheel.

The machine described is especially adapted for making paving bricks orblocks which are provided with air-cavities in their bases or bottomsand with air-vent openings leading from said air-c avities throughthe'body of the brick. R, Fig. 5, represents a perforating-pin which isintended for making the vent-openings. This pin is carried by the innerend of a plunger r, which is slidably mounted in a pocketin the rearface-plate of the machine to move toward and from the mold-wheel, whichis provided with an opening to permit the perforating-pin to projectthrough the side of the mold into the material of the brick therein. Theplunger r is normally held outward or away from the mold-wheel bysuitable means-for instance, a coil-spring r', which surrounds theplunger between a shoulder or enlargement r2 thereon and a shoulder inthe pocket in which the plunger is located.

r3 represents a rock-arm which is fixed to the rock-shaft Q. and itslower end is proyided with a forked portion having slots in which engagea transverse pin r4, secured to the plungerof the perforating pin. Theplunger is moved in or toward the moldwheel to cause the pin toperforate the brick by means of a finger or stud T5, which `is carriedby the gear-wheel 71,3 in advance of the operating-pinthereonforthelatch-bolt. This inger fr5 cooperates with the outwardly-facinginclined face q2, formed on the arm q', secured to the rock-shaft Q. Thecam-face q2 is provided with a long inclined upper portion and an abruptoutturned lower portion. When the finger r5 engages the inclined face,it swings the arm q inward, thus rocking the rock-shaft in a directionto move the plunger in toward the mold-wheel and cause theperforating-pin to enter the brick. The perforati'ng-pin is againimmediately withdrawn from the hole in the mold-wheel by the finger qlon the gear-wheel, which follows the finger '/5 and cooperates withtheinwardly-facing inclined face g3 on the arm, as above described. Theslot-and-pin connection between the rock-shaft and the operating-arm forthe latch-bolt permits the perforating-pin 'to be moved in and againwithdrawn before the latch-bolt is released tov move the moldwheel.

S represents an ejecting-plunger which is arranged in the annular spacebetween the hub and rim ofthe mold-wheel and is adapted to strike themovable bottoms of the molds as they are successively brought beneaththe same and force the bricks from the molds a coil-spring 25 onto asuitable endless conveyer or the like arranged beneath the mold-wheel.The plunger is carried by a lever s, which is pivoted to the main frame.

s represents a vertical rod which is connected at its lower end to thelever .s and passes up through a bearing-lug s2 on the inside of thefront face-plate of the machine. The rod is normally held up to raisethe le ver and hold the plunger out of the mold by a coil-spring s3,surrounding the rod between the lug s2 and a collar on the rod. Theupper end of the rod s' is arranged beneath the end of the lever m',which is connected to the operating-toggle for the press-plunger. Whenthe toggle is straightened to lower the plunger, the arm m' engages theupper end of the rod s and moves the ejecting-plunger down intoengagement with the bottom of the mold which is beneath the same toeject the, brick therefrom.

In Fig. 9 is shown a construction of mold and press-plunger for formingpaving bricks or blocks with a central vent-opening. The perforating-pinT is carried by the mold-bottom and projects upwardly or radially intothe mold. When the material is pressed in the mold, it is forceddownwardly over the pin and a hole is made in the brick. The in. ner endof the plunger or die carried by the same is provided with a centralopening registering-with the upper end of the perforat ing-pin and whichthe pin is adapted to enter when the plunger is moved into the mold. trepresents a pin which is arranged in a socket in the plunger-die withits lower end in the opening in the die. This pin is normally projecteddownwardly or outward by which surrounds the pin in the socket between ashoulder on the pin and a screw-plug or the like t2, which closes theinner end of the socket. When the plunger is moved down to press thematerial in the mold, the perforating-pin carries a small plug ofmaterial into the opening in the plungerdie andforces the pin t inwardlyagainst the tension of its spring. When the press-plunger is lifted, thepin t is projected outwardly by its spring and ejects the material fromthe opening. This arrangement permits the escape ot air from the brickbeing pressed through the opening in the plunger-die into the socketthereof, from which it can escape through the oil-opening t3.

The operation of themachine is as follows: The plastic material ispacked by the rotary propeller .T between the same and the gate ft2.When the press-plunger E is raised, the gate is opened by the describedconnections between the same and the plunger-toggle G, and the materialin the feed-receptacle is shoved by the propeller J into thernold. Thelatchbolt l? is then released and the mold-wheel quickly moved by theratchet mechanism to carry the filled mold beneath the press-plunger.The plunger is then lowered to press the brick, which movement of thepress-plun- IKO IIO

ger again closes the feed-receptacle gate ft2. The molds are thussuccessively filled and the bricks successively pressed. The pressedbricks are successively carried by the mold- Wheel around beneath theejecting-plunger S. The latter is moved down to eject the bricks ontothe conveyor beneath the mold-wheel by the described connections betweenthe same and the press plunger toggle. filled, a brick pressed, andabrick ejected at each period of rest of the mold-wheel.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a mold, of afeedreceptacle, a gate which-closes the dischargeopening of saidreceptacle, a rotary feed device for feeding the plastic material towardsaid gate, means for moving` said gate to uncover said discharge-openingand permit the discharge of the material, and means for projecting saidfeed device toward the gate to move the material between said feeddevice and said gate bodily into the mold when said discharge opening isuncovered, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a mold, of a feedreceptacle, a gate which closesthe dischargeopening of said receptacle, a rotary feed device forfeeding the plastic material between the same and said gate and which ismovable away from the gate to give place to the material, means formoving said gate to uncover said discharge-opening and permit thedischarge of the material, and means for projecting said feed devicetoward the gate to move the material between said feed device and saidgate bodily into the mold when said discharge-openingisuncovered,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a mold, of a suppl y-hopper, a feed-receptaclecommunicating therewith, a gate for said feed-receptacle, a rotary feeddevcein said feed-receptacle and movable toward and from said gate,means rotating said feed device, means for opening said gate, and aspring for moving said feed device toward said gate to eject thematerial from said feed-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a mold, of a supply-hop per, a feed-receptaclecommunicating therewith, a gate for said feed-receptacle, a rotary shaftmovable away from said gate and provided with one or more inclinedblades for feeding the material toward said gate, means for rotatingsaid feed-shaft, means for opening said gate, and a spring for movingsaid feed-shaft toward said gate to eject the material from saidfeed-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a mold andapressplunger, of a feed-receptacle, agate which A mold is closes the discharge-opening of said receptacle, arotary feed device for feeding the plastic material toward said gate,means controlled by said press-plunger for moving said gate to uncoversaid discharge-opening and permit the discharge of the material, andmeans for projecting said feed device toward said gate to move thematerial from said feedreceptacle into the mold when saiddischargeopening is uncovered, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a mold-wheel, and mechanism for intermittentlyrotating the same, comprising a ratchet-wheel connectedr to themold-wheel, a pawl cooperating with said ratchet-wheel, an operatingdevice for said pawl, releasable means for holding said mold-wheel frommovement during She movement of said operating device, and l.neans formoving said mold-wheel when released, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a mold-wheel, and a ratchet-and-pawl mechanism forintermittently rotating the same comprising a ratchetwheel connected tothe mold-wheel, a pawllever, a pawl carried thereby, an operatinglever,aspring connecting said operating-lever with said pawl lever, andreleasable means for holding said mold-wheel from movement during themovement of said operatinglever, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a mold having a perforating-pin, of apress-plunger provided with a hole which said pin is adapted to enter,and a spring-pressed pin arranged in said hole in the press-plunger,substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a mold-wheel, mechanism for intermittentlyrotating the same, a releasable bolt for holding said mold-wheel, aperforating-pin adapted to extend into the mold-cavity in themold-wheel, and a common mechanism for operating said bolt and saidperforating pin, substantially as set forth. j

lO. The combination of a mold-wheel, mechanism for intermittentlyrotating the same, a releasable bolt for holding said mold-wheel, aperforating-pin adapted to extend into the mold-cavity in themold-wheel, a rock-shaft, a rock-arm secured to said shaft and connectedto said perforating-pin, a rock-arm having a loose connection with saidshaft and connected to said bolt, and means for rocking said shaft,substantially as set forth.

Vtitness my hand this 24th day of February,

WILLIAM J. LEARY. Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, i CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY.

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